Material for Soldering Iron Tip

[Steve Walker]

My venerable Henley Solon soldering iron is gradually running out of tip. It is a plain rod approx 4.7mm x 40mm, with a simple chisel-tipped work end. The end of this slots into the heated element of the iron, and is secured with a tiny split pin.

I could easily fabricate one if I could get the material - I'm assuming it's some kind of annealed copper or brass.

Have googled & ebayed for an hour, but vendors all seem to describe the diameter of the hot, pointy end (rather than the bit that slots into the heating element).

Any ideas or links welcome - Thanks!

[Bob Eager]

I had a lucky hit on a discussion which said that earlier ones were solid copper, later ones being plated. So copper would seem to be the thing.

[Adrian Brentnall]

You want copper for heat transfer.... Only trouble is that a 'copper-only' soldering iron 'bit' will erode over time - which is why they plate them. (

Soldering iron bits always seem very expensive for what they are - the bits for my stained-glass ceramic-element iron come in at an eye-watering $24 each - but they do last about a year (which is a fair amount of soldering) and they are in contact with some fairly corrosive fluxes...

For occasional use, I'd think you'll be fine with a suitably-sized piece of copper rod - and you can always file it flat again when it erodes

[Steve Walker]

Thanks, yes that's what happens now - the tip hollows out like a crater and I file it flat periodically.

Now for a bonus point, can you let me have a few inches of 4.7mm copper rod?

[Adrian Brentnall]

Sadly not ! (If I had some then you'd be welcome)

The nearest thing I've got is brass rod that I use for some of my stained glass work - but that wouldn't do you...

It'll be one of those 'rod costs tuppence, min order £5, plus postage' deals - maybe get a decent price on ebay or somewhere similar ?

Sorry Adrian

[Andrew Gabriel]

Yep - dad still has one, which I learned to solder with. That's a solid copper rod, horribly corroded now. I think he replaced the bit once when I was about 8 or 9 and had started using it.

If you are soldering much, I would strongly suggest buying a temperature controlled iron which takes iron-plated copper bits. I bought a Weller TCP-1 at university, and I've been using it for 30 years now. You have to replace bits more often as the plating wears off, but it's so much nicer to use.

One thing about having learned on the old Solon is that I can create very neat soldered joints with anything - screw driver on the gas stove, etc - and this does come in handy from time to time.

[NT]

My Solons have a variety of items used for bits, ranging from Solon copper bits to pieces of brass salvaged from whatever. I once tried out an iron that used a steel nail as a bit, and even that worked ok. You dont need to get too precious about it. I'd talk to a scrappie, see if they've got something in brass or copper.

NT

[Steve Walker]

[Adrian Brentnall]

Told you so ! When I started with the 3mm brass rod I bought some on ebay - intended for model-makers, I think - came very nicely packaged and quite highly priced..

Had a flash of inspiration one day and discovered that the local car spares place sells 3mm brazing rod for next to nothing - simples!

As others have said - temperature-controlled is the way to go if you're doing lots of electronic work - does make the job much simpler..

Some of the earlier Weller temp-controller irons use a magent which is part of the 'tip' to do the temperature control - so the bits are more expensive...

All depends on how often you expect to be using it

[Steve Walker]

> Eeek!

[Adrian Brentnall]

>>> Eeek!

Yes - I think they're the guys I used. Same stuff (afaik) at the local car spares place is about ?1/metre

- and no postage

[geoff]

In message , Steve Walker writes

When these are less than £32 +, why not just buy a new one tips are only a couple of quid each

[Frank Erskine]

Many years ago I made a new Solon tip out of a bit of 3/16" brazing rod. Not quite as good as copper, but it did the job.

[Man at B&Q]

A piece of thickish copper wire (e.g. co-ax inner conductor) filed to a point and wrapped around a normal bit makes a good stand in for soldering fine pitch (sub mm) surface mount components when a proper small bit is not available.

MBQ

[geoff]

In message , geoff writes

Silly me - forgot the link, duh

[Dave]

What I have used in the past is 3/16 of an inch copper rivets (4.8 mm) I'm not quite sure where to look for them these days though. Model engineering shop?

Dave

[terry]

Yup. Have 25 watt and 65 watt Solons dating from the 1950s. Both used for electrical/radio work. Both are 230 volt and here in N.America have run them from a transformer and now have 230 volt outlets on the bench. Both are also earthed/grounded. The 25 watter has been refitted a couple of times with home made copper tips made from a short pieces of approx 6AWG (American wire gauge), APPROX 4 MM DIAMETER wire. That tip is held in with a small wire split pin. The 65 watter sort of spade tip doesn't need a replacement yet but it looks to be about 8 to 10 mm diam. that tip is held in with a small set screw. Considering the age but limited home experimenter use am well pleased with the Solon products. And do not foresee an problems fabricating copper replacements as long as the heating elements hold out. Have never rewound one of them; yet! Also have one of those soldering guns, and have fabricated tips for that on several occasions using bits of copper wire. Especially when a couple of hundred miles away from HQ! So have a go; make up a couple of tips; probably well worth the ten to fifteen minutes; once have found suitable material!

[Grimly Curmudgeon]

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember "Steve Walker" saying something like:

>>> Eeek!

That's RS for you - but by crackey they know how to charge.

for dirt cheap.

[NT]

I've seen the pin from a 15A round pin plug used too.

NT

[Andy Wade]

But you really do need copper (~4 times the thermal conductivity of

70/30 brass).

From recent experience I can thoroughly recommend

for small quantity metals. Their catalogue lists 3/16 in. round copper bar at £3.36 per ft. (ex-VAT). If you only want one length they will, IME, reduce the £4 standard minimum postage charge if you phone up and ask nicely.